&*%$#$ Hair Algae !!!

[FullPull]

I'm about at wits end with this stuff, so if anybody has any ideas....Please let me know. I've been running Phosphate through a reactor for 2 weeks now and it may have diminished a little bit. I've tried Lettuce Nudibranch's which I was told to get by a reputable on-line dealer...never touched it. I have a small urchin AND 2 Turbo's who do a decent job, but they can't be everywhere. I also love crabs (never thought I would utter those words) I have 4 Emeralds and a Porcelain. I have pulled most of it off by hand twice, just to have it come back. I've checked my source water for Phospates with nothing registering, but I'm not sure how accurate Instant Ocean test kits are. My tank has been running for 2 months now with no change in water params. Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phospate reading 0. Coaraline algae seems to be slow growing, checked calcium (also with IO test kit) and it seems a little low. If I can get my calcium up, maybe that will swing things to the better side. I'm also considering adding a fuge to aid in the nutrient removal.

[BlueLou]

More snails & hermit crabs, I have a 46Gal (similar size to yours) with 5 Turbo snails and a dozen assorted hermit crabs.

Also, there is a type of algae that looks like hair algae except that it has a fern like look to it, apparently this type is not too tasty and needs to be removed by hand. I would suggest more snails and a handfull of hermit crabs.

[George Gouveia]

it can also be due to poor water movement. How much GPH does your tank have?

[FullPull]

I'm running Maxi Jets. A 600 on the same side as my return(Mag 7), and a 1200 on the opposite side. That brings me to 935 gph total with 480 gph out of the Mag 7 due to 4' of head loss. I have my flow directed right at the rock. The majoritry of it is growing right in the path of the most flow which confuses me. I also have hermits, just didn't list everything. Thought the post was getting a bit long. I have 2 red leggeds, a dozen blues, and a mystery hermit with green legs which came along as a hitch hiker. Maybe I'll try a few more Turbo's.

It actually looks like it may be converting to bubble algae, which may or may not be good. My Emeralds may take to it a little more.

[papagimp]

Personally, I would take a water sample to a LFS or a fellow reefer with better test kits and double check everything. Plants and alge need some nutrients to thrive, specifically nitrates/phosphates/potassium, stuff like that. How often are you feeding and how much?

[Joshjohnson]

Phoaphates are not going to register in the display water due to the gha is consuming it, a fuge with macro's growing along with purning it back will help. Also i have used fresh water mollies in the past to eat it and they have all ways worked for me.

[FullPull]

I think the feeding is a huge contributing factor. I work swing shift and I think while I'm on afternoons and the wife and I are on different shifts, she takes it upon herself to feed the lil' Fella's.

Regarding test kits....Is it still believed by most that Salifert is the way to go as far as accuracy ?

[Sk8r]

DOn't feed flake or pellet: use frozen. That helps. Be patient with the phosban: the algae has to pass through something's gut AND through the break-down process before it will release its phosphate to the water where your phosban can grab it. In a new tank, the break-down process is still iffy, so it can take longer. All tanks get it. The next plague will be film algae. Bubble algae. It's never-ending.

[CTS]

Sounds like you can use more of a clean up crew. I had a couple pieces of rock that the snails would not touch. Even when I put them on there they would not eat it. I got a Peppermint shrimp to get a hold on my few aptasia. Well i have no more aptasia and he took care of couple pieces of rocks that were covered. Maybe it might work for you.

[BTTRFLYGRL]

How long are you running your lights?
You can cut back on your lighting period. How old are your bulbs?
Feed less [tis hard, I'm a chronic overfeeder with fat happy fish ]
A refuge is your best bet as the macroalgae competes for the same nutrients as the hair algae and usually wins.
Do more frequent and larger water changes..
Take the rock out and scrub it with a clean toothbrush and tank water then dip the rock in clean saltwater before placing it back...this is a pain and you may have to do it more than once but it helps

[sasscuba]

What is your TDS?

[FullPull]

TDS is a good question...a valuable tool that I have yet to get, along with my test kit for Magnesium. my total for bio load is as follows...
4 Emerald Crabs, Porcelain Crab, Sand Sifting Starfish, 2 Serpent Stars, Short Spine Urchin, Around 15 Hermits, 2 Turbo snails, 12 Nassarius Snails and 2 Peppermint Shrimp.....2 Small Clowns and a Yellow Tail Damsel

Actinics are on 12 Hours with daylight on 10 hours, I'd like to cut back on my lighting, but I have a pink tip anemone (a mercy deal) my buddies tank ruptured, and I have a cool Ricordea Mushroom growing as a hitchhiker.

[sushiman]

good input everyone, may I also recommend a Sea Hare?